Match Report : 20/09/2014

20 September 2014

Shrewsbury 0-0 County

Newport County AFC became the first team to take a point away from the Greenhous Meadow stadium this season after a hard fought draw, despite being down to ten men in the last 10 minutes of the game, all this against a Shrewsbury side looking for their sixth straight win at home this season.

Justin Edinburgh gave a first start to Scholar Regan Poole who replaced Kevin Feely in defence, the only change to the starting XI from the draw against Tranmere in midweek. Recently signed youngster Aaron Collins was also called up to the bench.

County started the game well and within a minute they had their first chance of the game as Lee Minshull's shot was deflected wide for a corner. Just moments later Robbie Willmott's shot was tipped over the bar by Jayson Leutwiler.

As we reached the ten minute mark Chris Zebroski won another corner for County, captain Andy Sandell stepped up and nearly put the ball straight in, but the Shrewsbury defence managed to clear to safety. Just seconds later Lee Minshull got up well to meet Sandell's cross only to see it hit the post and away.

Shrewsbury were next to go close as Andy Mangan beat the offside to chip over Joe Day, the County stopper watching it safely past the post. Andy Mangan was next to test keeper Day as his free kick ended up safely into the palms of the County keeper.

Just past the half hour mark Joe Day again pulled off a save at point blank range to deny Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro at the back post. Chris Zebroski managed to turn in the box and shoot only to see his effort go wide of Leutwilers goal. The last action of the first half saw Shrewsbury's Ryan Woods shoot from the edge of the box, only to see his effort go just wide.

County continued were they left off at the start of the second half and Andy Sandell went close again to putting the ball straight in from the corner. The ball causing problems in the Shrewsbury box only for the defence to somehow clear it away to safety.

County made two changes within four minutes as Christian Jolley replaced Joe Pigott and Ryan Jackson replaced youngster Regan Poole. With 20 minutes remaining Anthony Griffiths was next to test Joe Day who got down well to save from Griffiths' shot from the edge of the box.

Both James Wesolowski and Ryan Woods tried their luck from distance but both attempts were over the bar. Substitute Christian Jolley managed to break away and found himself in the box his effort earning County a corner. Just under 10 minutes left and County made their final substitution as Aaron O'Connor replaced Chris Zebroski.

With just eight minutes left County were unlucky not to break the deadlock as a goalmouth scramble ended in a corner to County which ended up being headed over the bar. A big talking point after the game was the red card for Andrew Hughes who was adjudged to have shown his studs in a tackle meaning County would play the last six minutes with ten men.

With two minutes of normal time left Shrewsbury were celebrating as they thought they had scored, only to see Joe Day pull off a fantastic save to deny Shrewsbury what would have been a certain three points. As the referee signaled an additional five minutes, Shrewsbury were piling on the pressure.

Jermaine Grandison went close with his effort from the edge of the box, his shot clipping the top of the netting behind the goal. The last kick of the game saw Joe Day save from a powerful header from a Shrewsbury corner as the ball was cleared by County the referee blew for full time.

Manager Justin Edinburgh commented after the game "I'm pleased with the performance, I thought it was a very good game, we're certainly delighted with consecutive clean sheets away from home and another valuable point. We've certainly earned our point today."